Chain Mail

Two mail types, Rivited (left) and Butted (right).

Chain mail (originally simply known as Mail) was a type of armor worn mainly in Europe, although there are accounts of Asian societies using it. Believed to be invented by the Celts , the earliest known example being found in the burial site of a Celtic chieftain, it was highly effective at stopping slashes and stabbing attacks as well as most arrows, while a very fine point such as a Bodkin arrow could pierce light chain mail. It however offered little protection against blunt force trauma. While taking a great deal of time to make, it was highly effective do to the flexibility it offered over solid plate or Lamellar.

Variations

There are basically two kinds of chainmail: riveted and butted. Riveted chain mail had solid rings and was near impossible to get through with either slashing or stabbing. Butted chainmail had the rings bent together. This meant that the links fell apart relatively easily, while it did offer mild protection against slashes if the rings were heavy enough. The main difference between the two was riveted is what was historically used by societies like the Celts and Vikings, while butted is normally used for modern day reenactment and is largely useless in a fight. In Eastern Asia chain mail was used occasionally used but the rings weren't rivited like its European counterparts, and was similiar to butted mail. However, it wasn't used in large amounts like in Europe and was normal paired with other armors (like lamellar) to cover joints.

In Europe

Chain mail started to rise to prominence in middle to northern Europe, where it is commonly believed to be invented by the Celts. Early on only well to do warriors could afford to use it, meaning it was also a symbol of status. The Romans, after seeing how effective the Celtic armor was, started to use it in place of their older, more expensive, segmented plate armor. As time went on chain mail became more and more common, eventually being used as standard armor for all warriors in Europe. Knights never stopped using it, even when they adopted plate armor, as it was a good way to keep them from being cut, there by reducing the risk of an infection.

In Middle East, Central and South Asia

Mail Armour was introduced to the Middle East and Asia through the Romans and was adopted by the Sassanid Persians starting in the 3rd century AD. From the Middle East mail was quickly adopted in Central Asia by the Sogdians and by India in the South. It was not commonly used in Mongol armies due to its weight and the difficulty of its maintenance, but it eventually became the armor of choice in India. Indian mail was typically light in construction and was often used with plate protection. There are accounts of Riveted mail and plate coat named "zirah bagtar" armor, an armor type that was introduced into India under the Mughals.

The Ottoman Empire used plated mail widely and it was used in their armies until the 18th century by heavy cavalry and elite units such as the Janissaries. They spread its use into North Africa where it was adopted by Mamluke Egyptians and the Sudanese who produced it until the early 20th century.

In East Asia

Imported chainmail was used in China and Korea by high ranking officials or elite soldiers, but it never saw widespread use there. The Japanese used many different mail weave methods including: a square 4-in-1 pattern, a hexagonal 6-in-1 pattern and a European 4-in-1 . Most of the chainmail links used by the Japanese were butted mail and was lighter and less effective compared to European mail. Though mail in Japan was mainly used in conjunction with another armor set to cover the gaps between different armor parts. It was also used to produce "armored clothing" from jackets to socks. However there are documents that the Japanese not only knew how to make riveted mail and manufactured it.

In Show

In the show, most if not all chain mail tested is butted, which is not historically accurate to what warriors who used chain mail would use, with te exception of Ivan the Terrible, who did have a shirt of rivited mail on the show.

Advantages

Chainmail on it's own is highly effective against slashes and stabs. When wore in conjunction with a padded shirt and leather shirt it would reduce blunt force damage as well. It was often worn with a leather shirt both over and under the chain mail with the padded shirt. In terms of flexibility no other ancient armor could compete, with flexibility similar to cloth and greater than hardened leather. Also due to the way it draped over the body it's weight was evenly distributed, making it easier to were. Because it was made of individual links, it was relatively easy to repair if a link was broken, only having to replace the broken link.

Disadvantage

The biggest problem with chain mail was, while not overly difficult to make, it does take a longer amount of time to make compared to other armor, and was normally more expensive than plate armor. Chainmail, specially butted chainmail, has the disadvantage of being weak against stabs if the rings weren't tough enough. Slashes would cause it to break (however butted chainmail wasn't common historically as leather shirts offer more protection, were less expensive and, were also lighter).